* Hails Gbajabiamila
Emameh Gabriel in Abuja
Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly Tuesday, next week, the outgoing Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has called on the incoming lawmakers to take another look at the bill aimed at creating special seats for women in the National Assembly.
Onyejeocha, who represented Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the ninth assembly, also congratulated the outgoing Speaker of the House Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, for his recent appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Chief of Staff to the President.
The Deputy Whip, who has remained a global voice and advocate for women inclusion in governance, said the ninth assembly made history as it was the first time such an ambitious bill was presented before the National Assembly.
The bill titled: ‘A Bill for An Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to create additional special seats for Women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly,’ was sponsored by Onyejeocha as part of efforts to increase women participation in politics.
Although the bill did not scale through the house in the ninth assembly; if passed into law, it would have created an additional 34 seats in the Senate and 74 seats in the House of Representatives.
In her valedictory speech made available to journalists in Abuja Thursday through her media office, she lamented the low number of women who won legislative seats during the 2023 general election.
She, however, applauded Gbajabiamila for standing by her in advocating for the special seats bill and other key bills of national importance.
She stated: “I consider our attempt a bold but timely move considering the socio-cultural obstacles women face in attempting to occupy leadership positions in our society.
“As lawmakers, we were faced with the challenge of the legislative process, which entailed navigating complex political landscapes, cultural beliefs, differing viewpoints, and the need for compromise.
“While we may not have achieved the desired outcome of passing this bill, it does not diminish the importance of the issue it sought to address, the issue of women political exclusion, neither did it belittle our efforts and the impact we made along the way.
“With no significant improvement in the number of women who won legislative seats after the 2023 elections, this issue remains critical for Nigeria both at home and internationally.
“I make bold to say that several countries are looking up to us to take the lead on this matter and not to lead from behind. I sincerely hope that the incoming 10th House puts this on the front burner.
“We must remember that progress is not always linear, and the path to meaningful legislative change can be challenging. However, our efforts contributed to raising awareness, stimulating public discourse, and laying the groundwork for future discussions on this pressing matter.
“While we may not have reached a consensus on this important piece of legislation, and indeed some other important bills, the process itself has been invaluable in fostering dialogue, deepening our understanding and shaping our future actions.”
Speaking on her legislative journey, she maintained that a lot was done to tackle a wide range of issues that has touched the lives of her constituents.
She added: “I have served on various committees including Judiciary, Police Affairs, Women in Parliament and notably, the Aviation Committee which I chaired for eight years. I have championed bills aimed at promoting social justice, economic growth, environmental sustainability, healthcare reforms, educational advancements, and countless other areas that are crucial for the well-being of the society.
“Of note are three critical bills that received presidential assent: the National Senior Citizens Centre Act 2017, Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshots Act 2017 and Anti-torture Act 2017
“I want to express my gratitude to all my colleagues who have worked alongside me in this legislative endeavour. Your dedication, intellect, and commitment to the betterment of our society have been an inspiration to me. Together, we have shown that collaboration, open dialogue, and respect for diverse opinions are the cornerstones of effective lawmaking.
“I am proud of the collaborative spirit and dedication that I witnessed in this legislative body. Let us not forget the countless hours spent in committee rooms and in meetings, poring over draft bills, proposing amendments, and striving to strike the right balance between different perspectives. It is through this diligent process that we crafted legislation and adopted resolutions that reflect the collective wisdom of this esteemed Assembly.”
